Pattern-matching mechanism for looms



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1,

A. OLAPPERTON.

PATTERN MATCHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

No. 596,039. Patented Dec. 21, 1897.

INITEI) STAT S ALEXANDER OLAPPERTON,

PATENT Enron OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,039, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed April 16, 1897- To coil whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER OLAPPER- TON, a citizen of the United .States, residing at Yonkers, county of VVestchester, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pattern-Matching Mechanism for Looms, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

In the manufacture of fabrics consisting of a body formed by ground or body warp and weft threads and a pattern-surface formed by pattern-warp threads, such as pile fabrics of the various classes, a serious difficulty arises from the fact that the pattern-warp is liable to run unevenly relatively to the ground or body warp, so that the successive blocks of the pattern formed by the pattern-warp are long or short, while it is necessary that the successive pattern-blocks should be of the same length and register accurately with successive portions of the body-warp strands, so as to secure the uniform appearance of a single breadth of the fabric and the matching of the pattern in successive breadths when placed side by side.

The object of the present invention is to provide means by which the proper uniform length of the pattern-blocks and their accurate registry with different portions of the body of the fabric shall be secured and any irregularity therein automatically corrected by the action of the loom. I secure this result in accordance with the presentinvention by combining with the loom a reciprocating member controlled by the pattern-warp and acting to increase or decrease the tension and thus shorten or lengthen the patternblock in case the pattern runs long or short, and thus correct any irregularity in the pattern-registry. If the pattern-warp be taken up too rapidly in the pattern, as often happens, for instance, when a new spool of Weft is put in and this weft is coarser than that of the previous spool, the pattern-blocks will run too short, and this may be corrected by.

, increasing the tension on the pattern-warp,

while if the pattern-warp is taken up too slowly in the patternfor instance,when the 'weft on a new spool is finer than that of the previous spoolthe pattern blocks will run Serial No. 632,415. (No model.)

too long, and this may be corrected by decreasing the tension on the pattern-warp.

In thelpreferred construction embodying the present invention the taking up of the pattern-warp in the pattern and its let off by suitable letoff mechanism produces the ing pressure, tending to move it in opposite directions, so as to increase tension upon the pattern-warp in case the bar moves too far in one direction on account of the warp being taken up too rapidly and to support the bar and assist the strain of the pattern-warp and thus lessen the tension in case the bar moves too far in the opposite direction on account of the warp being taken up too slowly.

The broad features of the invention may be used with any suitable mechanism for securing the proper feed of the pattern-warp in conjunction with the reciprocating member controlling the tension of the pattern-warp as it is taken up in the pattern, and such mechanism maybe any suitable let-off acting upon the warp-beam or other suitable part. The pattern-warp, however, preferably passes to the tension-bar from the warp-beam over a roller which holds the warp against slip and is rotated for letting off the warp to the tension-bar as required, and in the preferred form of my loom this roll controls another letoff acting on the pattern-warp beam, and this double let-oft mechanismforms a part of the invention in itself as well as in combination with the other features of the invention or with other suitable means coacting with this let-off mechanism to secure the proper matching of the pattern.

For a full understanding of the invention a detailed description of a construction embodying all the features of the invention in 70 which act upon the bar so as to applya yieldelevation of the feed-roller for the pattern-.

warp and its actuating mechanism. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the let-off and matching mechanism, the view being on the side of the loom opposite that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section, looking to the right, on the line 4 of Fig. 1.

enlarged detail of the draw-oif roller and its feeding mechanism.

The loom to which my pattern-matching mechanism is shown as applied is substantially the same as looms now well known and in common use in weaving tapestry carpets, so that a full illustration and description of this loom is unnecessary, it being understood that the construction and operation of the parts of the loom, aside from my novel mechanism, are or may be of any suitable form and that the matching mechanism may be applied to many other looms of the same class or of other classes employing pile or similar pattern-warps.

In the loom shown, A are the warp-beams for the ground or body warp 0:, B the pilewarp beam for the pile or pattern warp y, C the heddles, D the lay, and E the breast-beam over which the woven fabric passes to the draw-off roll F and wind-up roll G, all these parts and their actuating mechanisms being of any common or suitable construction and operated in any suitable manner, and the loops in the pile-warp g which form the pile surface, being formed by pile-wires 1, which are inserted and withdrawn by any suitable pile-wire movement, all as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the draw off roll F being shown as operated by lever 10, carrying pawl 2, engaging a ratchet on the end of the draw-0d roll.

Referring now to the parts in which the present invention is embodied, the pile-warp 1 y passes from the warp-roll B downward over a tension-bar, preferably a tension-roll a, the

bearings of which are mounted to move in slots 12 in supports 13, and thence over a roll 5, having a roughened surface, so that the pattern-warp will not slip on the surface of the roll, but the roll I) will positively draw it forward as the roll is rotated by means presently to be described. From the roll I) the pile-warp passes to the heddles 0 over the tension bar or roll 0, which is carried by arms 11, mounted on studs at opposite ends of the machine and connected at one end by arm 8 to the sleeve 9, mounted on the same stud as arm 11 and carrying a forwardly-extending arm d, 011 which is a weight 6, adjustable in position longitudinally of the arm, so as to secure the desired normal pressure upon and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an tension of the pile-warps y. Therear end of this arm 01 is slotted or forked and moves upon a vertical bar 14, between two springs ff, coiled upon the bar. The tension-bar in the construction shown is a smooth-faced bar, but it may be a roll, if desired, and it will be understood that the location of this tension-bar as shown is not essential and that it may be placed in any other position and mounted in any suitable manner so as to secure its proper movement by the pile-warp. This tensionbar 0 forms a reciprocating member by the movement of which the matching mechanism is controlled in the construction shown.

The shaft of roll 19 carries a ratchet-wheel 15, which is engaged by a pawl 16, carried by a vertically-swinging pawl-lever 17, connected I by a link 18 to alever 19, actuated to rotate the roll I) by a cam 20and returned to-position by the spring 21.

The roll I) thus forms a part of the let-off mechanism for the pile-warpand acts to let off or feed intermittently the warp drawn off the warp-beam B. The beam Bis directly actuated to let oif the warp for the roll b by let-off mechanism of any suitable form,

which is controlled by the rotation of the roll I), through the movement of the tension-roll a, this let-off mechanism being shown as of a form common in such constructions, the novel feature of this part of the construction consisting in the control of this let-off. In the let-off construction shown the warp-roll B carries a gear 22 at one end, by which the roll is rotated by a worm 23, carried by shaft 24, and this shaft 24 carries a ratchet-wheel 25, which is engaged by a spring-pressed pawl 3, carried by a weighted pawl-lever 26, swinging on shaft 24 and actuated by a slotted link 27, engaging pin 4 on the lever, this link 27 connecting with a lever 28, actuated by a cam 29 to rotate the shaft 24 and returned by a spring 30.

The control of this mechanism is secured by an inwardly-projecting toe 5 on the lever 26, which is normally engaged by a swinging catch 31, which is spring-pressed to throw it toward the toe 5 by a coiled spring 6 on its pivot, and is thus thrown into position to engage the toe 5 at each feeding movement of the weighted lever as actuated by the link 27. This catch 31 carries a pin 7 which is engaged by a trip-lever 32, pivoted at a fixed point on support 33 and actuated by a link 34, con: nected to the roll a, this lever 32, when its outer end is raised by the upward movement of roller a, acting on the pin 7 oncatch 31 to draw the catch back and release the toe 5 of the lever 26. As will be seen from Fig. 4, which shows the position of the parts with the catch 31 engaging the toe 5, so as to hold this part of the lever 26 depressed and the other or actuating arm of the lever 26 raised, the pin 4 is then held at the upper end of the slotin the link 27,so that the upward movement of the link 27 does not actuate the lever. There is therefore no rotation of the shaft 24 by the pawl 3 as link 27 is raised, except when the catch 31 is thrown out by the triplever 32, actuated by the upward movement of the roll a, and this upward movement of the roll a takes place only as it is moved to the upper end of its slot by the drawing off of the pile-warp by roller 1) as the latter is rotated.

It is sometimes necessary to throw the drawofif roll F out of operation, and it is desirable that when this is done the roll 19 shall be similarly thrown out of operation, so that the pilewarp will not be drawn off thereby,but the pilewarp held under proper tension during the stopping of the draw-off roll F. I have shown a simple means for this purpose in which. the pawl 2 for actuating the draw-off roll F is thrown out of engagement by a slotted arm 35 on a rock-shaft 36, having a handle-arm 37, so that by moving the latter to the left the pawl 2 is thrown out of engagement with the ratchet on draw-01f roll F, and this rockshaft 36 carries an arm 38, which is connected by a link 39 to a lever 40, which as the pawl 2 is thrown out by the movement of handlearm 37 engages the pawl 16 and throws it out of position to engage the ratchet 15.0n roll I), the levers 10 and 17 then moving idly without rotating either the draw-off roll F or the roll 17., It will be understood that this device is not essential, but such means is preferably used and in itself forms a specific feature of the invention.

The operation is as follows: As the roll I) is rotated intermittently by the cam 20 and connections it draws off and feeds forward the desired amount of pile-warp, the tension upon which is preserved by the weighted arm d acting upon the tension-bar c, the arm at being lowered as the pile-warp is taken up in the pattern, so that the forward end of the arm 01 plays up and down on the rod 14 between the springs fand f. The slack in the pile-warp between the warp-beam B and roll I) is taken up by the intermittent motion of the roll I), which lets oif less warp at each operation than the warp-beam and the roll a thus raised in the slots 12. When this roll ct has been raised, so as to actuate the lever 32 to draw the catch 31 out of engagement with the toe 5 on the pawl-lever 26, the weighted end of this lever withdraws the lever and pawl, so that the pin 4 is at the lower end of the slot in the link 27, and on the next movement of the link actuated by cam 29 the pawllever 26 is actuated to rotate the shaft 24 through ratchet 25 and thus rotate the roll I) to let ofi the required amount of pile1warp which is taken up by the downward movement of the tension-roll ain the slots 12. This downward movement of the roll actuates the lever 32 to release the pin 7 on catch 31, and the latter is thrown in by spring 6, so as to engage the toe 5 and thus hold the pawllever 26 out of position to be actuated by the link 27 until the next upward movement of the roll 01, again releases the catch 31. If the pile-warp y is taken up too slowly or too rapidly in the fabric being woven and thus runs out of registry, so that the pattern-blocks are not of the proper length, the pattern-blocks in the fabric will be too long if the pile-warp is taken up too slowly and the pattern-blocks will be too short if the pile-warp is taken up too rapidly. In correcting the registry, therefore, so that the pattern-blocks will be of the same length the pattern will be shortened in the first case by decreasing the tension upon the pile-warp so 'that the warp will be taken up more rapidly by the pile-loops of the pattern and the pattern will be lengthened in the second case by increasing the tension upon the pile-warp so as to draw the pileloops more tightly. These results are secured by the forward end of the Weighted arm at and the springs f f, as follows: If the pattern runs shortthat is, if the, pile-warp is taken up more rapidly-the arm (1 will be raised by the taking up of the warp so as to move the forward end of the arm d into contact with and to press upon the upper spring f, as it is obvious that this movement of the arm 01 depends upon the rapidity with which the pile-warp is taken up. As the forward end of the arm (1 comes into contact with and presses upon the spring fthevresis'tance of the weight 6 to the further movement of the arm d and the taking up of the pile-warp in the pattern is increased by the pressure upon the spring f, the spring securing a yielding or gradual increase of this pressure and thus of the tension upon the pile-warp. This increase in tension acts to draw the pile-loops more tightly and thus to lengthen the pattern so as to correct the irregularity. If the pattern runs too long, the action is just the reverse, the pile-warp being taken up more slowly and it being necessary to decrease the tension upon the pile-warp so as to shorten the pattern. This result is attained by the engagement of the arm cl with the bottom spring f as the arm lowers under the excess of tension and slower taking up of the pilewarp, and the weight of the arm is'thus sup ported in part by the spring and the tension upon the pile-warp thus gradually decreased, so as to shorten the pattern and correct the irregularity.

In this class of looms it is frequently desirable to change the feed of the roller 6 for weaving different grades of material. This may be done in the construction shown by increasing or decreasing the amount or frequency of movement of the roll 12, which may readily be provided for by change-speed gearing between the ratchet-wheel l5 and roll I), or other suitable means for varying the feed of the pattern-warp.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the construction shown, but that many modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

. What I claim is-- 1. The combination with a loom, of a pattern-matching mechanism provided with a member having a reciprocating movement controlled by the pattern-warp, and means controlled by the movement of said member for varying the rate at which the pattern warp is taken up in the pattern for the correction of the pattern-registry, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a loom, of a pattern-matching mechanism having a member over which the pattern-warp passes, said member being moved in one direction by the warp as the warp is taken up in the pattern and moved in the opposite direction as the warp is let off, and means controlled by the movement of said member for varying the rate at which the warp is taken up in the pattern forthe correction of the pattern-registry, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a loom, of a pattern-matching mechanism having a reciprocating member moved by the pattern warp, and means controlled by said member for varying the tension of the pattern-warp for the correction of the pattern-registry, substantially as described.

t. The combination with a loom, of a pattern-matching mechanism having a tensionbar for the pattern-warp, and means controlled by the movement of said tension-bar for varying the tension of the pattern-warp for the correction of the pattern-registry, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a loom, of a pattern-matching mechanism having a reciprocating member moved by the pattern-warp and a spring opposing the movement of said member to vary the tension of the patternwarp for the correction of the pattern-registry, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a loom, of a pattern-matching mechanism having a reciprocating member moved by the pattern-Warp, and means for opposing and assisting the movement of said member to vary the tension of the pattern-warp for the correction of the pattern-registry, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a loom, of a pattern-matching mechanism having a tensionbar for the pattern-warp, and springs acting upon said bar to oppose and assist its movement by the pattern-warp and brought into action to vary the tension on excess of movement of the bar in-either direction, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a loom, of a tension-bar for the pattern-warp, an arm carried by said bar, and springs between which said arm reciprocates as the pattern-warp is let off and taken up in the pattern and acting upon said arm to increase or decrease the pressure on the tension-bar on excess of movement of the arm in either direction, substantially as described.

9. The combination with aloom and its pattern-warp beam, of a roll over which the pattern-warp passes from the warp-beam and adapted to hold the warp against slip, means for rotating said roll intermittently for the advance of the warp from said roll, and means controlled by the pattern-warp between said roll and the pattern to vary the tension of the pattern-warp for the correction of the pattern-registry, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a loom, and its pattern-warp beam of a roll over which the pattern-warp passes from the warp-beam and adapted to hold the warp against slip, a tension-bar over which the warp passes from said roll, means controlled by the movement of said tension-bar to vary the tension on the pattern-Warp, means for rotating said roll intermittently for the advance of the warp from said roll, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a loom, its pattern-warp beam, and let-oif mechanism therefor, of a roll over which the pattern-warp passes from the warp-beam and adapted to hold the warp against slip, a tension-bar over which the warp passes from said roll, means controlled by the movement of said tensionbar to vary the tension on the pattern-Warp, means'for rotating said roll intermittently for the advance of the warp from said roll, and means for controlling the warp-beam let-off by the movement of the roll, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a loom, its pattern-Warp beam and let-off mechanism therefor, of a second intermittently-operating letoif device to which the warp passes from the beam, means controlled by the pattern-warp after it leaves said second let-off device to vary the tension 011 the pattern-warp for the correction of the pattern-registry, and means for controlling the warp-beam let-off by the action of said device, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a loom, its pattern-warp beam, and let-off mechanism therefor, of a second intermittently-operating letofi device to which the warp passes from the beam, a tension-bar over which the warp passes from said device, and means controlled by the movement of said tension-bar for varying the tension on the pattern-warp, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a loom, its pattern-warp beam, and let-off mechanism there for, of a second intermittently-operating letoff device to which the warp passes from the beam, means controlled by the pattern-warp after it leaves said second let-off device to vary the tension on the pattern-warp for the correction of the pattern-registry, a tensionbar between the warp-beam and said let-oft device, and means for controlling the warpbeam let-off by said tension-bar, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a loom, its pattern-matching mechanism, and warp-beam and let-oft mechanism therefor, of a second intermittently-operating let-off device to which the warp passes from the warp-beam, and

IIO

means for controlling the warp-beam let-off mechanism by the action of said device, substantially as described.

g 16. The combination with a loom, its pattern-matching mechanism, and warp-beam and let-off mechanism therefor, of a second intermittently-operating let-off device to which the warppasses from the warp-beam, a tension-bar for the warp between the warp-beam and let-ofi device, and means for controlling the warp -beam let off mechanism by the movement of the tension-bar, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a loom, its pattern matching mechanism, and warp -beam and let-off mechanism therefor, of an intermittently-operated roll over which the warp passes from the warp-beam adapted to hold the warp against slip, a tension-bar between the roll and pattern-warp beam, and means for controlling the let-oif by the movement of said tension-bar, substantially as described.

18. The combination with aloom, its pattern-matching mechanism, and warp-beam and let-off mechanism therefor, and a drawoff roll and actuating mechanism therefor, of an intermittently-operated let-off roll over which the warp passes from thewarp-beam,.

and means for actuating the same, of a catch 31 engaging said lever at the end of a let-off movement to hold it out of operative position,

tension-roll a, and means actuated by said roll for tripping the catch for the let-off movement, substantially as described.

20. The combination with an intermittently-operated let-off, of tension-bar 0, arm (1 moving with said bar, and springs f, f on opposite sides of said arm, arranged to oppose and assist the movement of the arm by the warp to increase or decrease the warp-tension substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER OLAPPERTON.

Witnesses:

C. J. SAWYER, A. L. KENT. 

